Matrix game



Sept. 20, 1960 MATRIX GAME a f Ll! G. W. PRESTON Filed July l, 1957 unLII ill JNVENTOR. Gli/VIV W PES/V United States Patent MATRIX GAME GlennW. Preston, Oreland, Pa., assigner to General Atronics Corporation,Bala-Cynwyd, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 1, 19'57,Ser. No. 669,293

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-130) This invention relates to game devices and moreparticularly to a matrix game.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved game whichis highly enjoyable and entertaining.-

Another object of the invention Lis to provide a new and improved matrixgame which is played more persons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved matrixgame played by at least two opposing players and requiring thought andskill, and rewarding the use of tactics and strategy f Another object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved game which is simple toplay and does `not require complex and numerous rules and instructions.y

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved matrixgame in which the habits and mental processes of the opposing player maybe utilizedfto advantage for winning the game. n

Another object of the invention is rto provide a new and improved matrixgame `allowing a wide diversity eld having regions arranged inintersecting rows and columns, a plurality of numbered counters forarbitrarily numerically evaluating the regions of said member, a irstmovable means for selecting any one of said rows and a second movablemeans for selecting any one of said columns.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention Awill become moreapparent as the following detailed 'description of the invention is readin conjunction with the 'drawings, in which: l i

Figure 1 is a plan view of a matrix game embodying Ithe invention, v

Figure 2 is a perspective view of some of the counters of said matrixgame, lFigure 3 is a modified form of the matrix game shown in Figure l,

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view taken 4 4, and

Figure 5 is another modified form of the matrix'game shown in Figure l.

Like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

The Figure l illustrates av matrix game l10 embodying the invention andincluding a board member 12 with a square playing eld 14 having 16square regions arranged in four rows 18 and four columns 20.

A vertical column 22 of squares 24, 25,' '26 andi27; is

by two or on the line t separated by a vertical line 28 from the playingield 14, while a horizontal row 30 of squares 31, 32, 33, and 34 isseparated from the playing iield 14 by a horizontal line 36. lThe cornersquare 38, in the present description, is not considered a member ofeither the marginal column 22 or fthe row 30.

A plurality of counters 39 may be utilized for giving numericalevaluations to the square regions 16 of the playing field 14. Thecounter evalutions may be positive, negative, zero or may have no value.Red counters 40 may be utilized to indicate negative values, while blackcounters 42 may indicates positive values. The various numerals on thecounters 39 may indicate the absolute value of the counter.

A counter 44 may be assigned to the player A, while another counter 46may be assigned to the other player B.

To illustrate one manner in which the matrix game 10 may be employed,the players A and B may initiate the game by mixing and then arbitrarilypositioning the counters 39 upon the playing ield 14. This provides anumerical evaluation, which may be positive, negative or zero value, foreach of the square regions 16. A blank counter 39 such as counter 48 mayalso be utilized in which no evaluation is given to a particular squareregion 16.

The counter y44 of player A is positioned on one of :the squares of themarginal column 22 while the counter 46 of player B is positioned on asquare of the marginal row 30.

:The players A and B now proceed by alternately respectivelyselectingrows and columns by positioning their counters 44 and 46. Thus,to start the game the player A may select the first row by positioninghis counter in square 24, whereupon lthe player B may select the secondvertical column 20 by positioning the counter 46 in the square 32 asillustrated in the Figure .1.

After making a move, the moving player acquires the counter 39 indicatedby the positions of the counters 44 and `46. Thus, after. the player Bmoves to square 32, he acquires the counter 50 positioned in the squareregion 16 indicated by the row and column respectively selected by thecounters 44 and 46 of the players A and B.

. It is noted that the previous move of the player A to square 24 allowsthe player B, by moving his counter 46, to select any of the counters inthe rst of the rows 18. By moving to the square 31 or 34 the player Bwould acquire counters 39 having negative numerical values. Thisgenerally is undesirable and should be avoided. The positioning of thecounter 46 in either of the squares 32 or 33 results in obtaining acounter 39 having a positive value. It is noted that the counter 50selected by positioning the counter 46 in the square 32 has the maxi--mum positive value which can be acquired by the player B in thisinstance. However, it will be apparent that it is not alwaysadvantageous to obtain the maximum positive value counter at aparticular time, since it may be possible to reduce the gain of theopposing player by taking another counter 39 having a lower value.

The player B nowl removes the counter 50 and-adds its value to hisscore. The player A may now move his counter 44 for selecting aparticular row and obtainin the counter 39 indicated thereby.

Depending on the tactics and strategy of player A, he

counter 52 -with the maximum positive evaluation in the column selected,or hei-may take any of the other counters 39 which he deems mostadvantageous. Of course, it must be remembered that the choice ofcounters 39 which may-be made by player B depends upon theparticular row18 previously selected by the player A. Thus,v

it is not always advantageous for the moving player to` maximize thevalue. of the counter 39 obtained, since this may result in a greatergain for the opposing player.

For example, if player A chooses square 27 he obtains the emmers?having-.2.1. Pesitiye evaluation of g3..v ThiSLV isili@ Vahle Ot the,counters in tbeseeond ce1- ludlsated. by the Counter `bi-f. player. B..The play#- et B; @when giove t0Y Square 34; and; obtain theeoumer 5.4,which. has.. a nesitye value.. et 6t This-.is twice. the value of thecounter 52 obtained by player A.A Thus; Player A WOtlldbe in a betterposition ith@l Selected the Seanad new by positioning his connerie insquare 25, etidbteininathe Counter; 5.6 having a positive value 0f one,AThis wouldpforce player B to; take either the. counterhayinsazero value0.: tbeeounter 5u-having a. negatiyeyalue 0f 6-4Shpulsl-theglayerhmoyetothe square lttbereby .Obtaining thezero counter58.., the player A would still have a net gain of l,whereasinthe.previously illustrated situation, he wouldhave a relativelossof 3.

Ifhe, regionsl from which the counters 3.95 have been removed orwhichcontainl ablank counter 48^may not be selected by either of the players.Thislimits the num.- ber or" possible moves as the garne progresses. Itis notedY that the use of blank counters. 48 which provides; theequiylalenty of a blank square region y16, sirnpliiiesV the gaine, makesit less complex andjtends to shorten theduration and extentA ot thegame. The use of such blanky counters for distinguishing theregionsofthe playing ield may be of great importance, especially when a eld isenlarged'to haveve or ymore columns and rows. This is als o .true in thecase otk the extension of.K the playingflieldf into three dimensions orother enlarging andl complicating aspects of the game.

The counters 39 such as counterSS may be provided having a zeroevaluation which is notequivalent to the blankcounter 48, but allowsthe. selection and removal of this counter 58 by the players, although.it does not` add any value to the score. However, since thismay be thebest counter to choose among several counters 39, as illustrated above,it has a positive aspect. in the. relative sense in that it does notdetract from thescore of .the player acquiring it.

The zero valuation counter 58 may alsobe utilized, if so desired by theplayers, for replacementv upon a. blank square` region 16 ofthe playingheld 1\4.byv a playervhaving its possession.Y This Will allow such aplayer tolselectV a row or column, whichY he wouldotherwiseV not be ableto select because of theY absence of acounter in the desired position,The zero counter l58 may thuspass fromone player to the other player,thereby providing flexibility and additional interest tothe game. It isnoted that more than oneV of the zero counters 58 or blank counters 48may be provided and utilized as desiredbyV the players.

IThe gamemay be brought to aclose, even though counters'yet remain uponthe squarelregionsv 16 o'frtheplay.-` ing eld 14, when the last playerto move his counter. 44-, 4 6,fobtains the last remaining counter 39,inhis row or column, so that the other player cannot obtain a counter 39byany of his possible selections. However, if such player has a zerocountervSS, under the application of the rules previously stated, he mayselect a blankv square. region 16, thereby preventing the terminationofthegarne atlthis point.

greatest advantage to him.v

The scorerof each player is determined by thenumber resulting from theaddition ofthe positive values of the counters which he has obtainedfrom whichiis subtracted l Of course, in selecting the. blankV regionLtheplayer will select a row or columnwhich will be of` Theaboverules andmoves of the players A and Bhave been described for purposes ofillustration and many variations of these rules may be utilized inaccordance with the desires of the players.

T-he Figures 3 land 4 illustrate a matrix game 60 which is a modied formof the devices 10 shown in the Figure 1. The matrix game 6l)l differsfrom game 10 by providing a movable` indicating means 62 in the form ofa pointer for selecting one of the rows 18 by being slidablypositionable within one of the squares` 201, 25; 26 and527'. A secondmovable means 6 4 similar to the means 62 is slidably positionable inone of the 'squares 31, 32, 33 or. 34. for selecting one of the columns20. The movable means 62 may be actuated by the player A, ywhile themovable means 64 may be actuated by player B. Of course, the game Silalso may be played in accordance with the rules described above inconnetion with the matrix. sanne 10,

The Figure 4 illustrates in detail by means of an enlarged sectionalView, thel construction of the movable means. 62 andits slidableinteraction with the board member 1,2.` The board member 12 is providedwith apsloty65, extending through the squares ofA the marginal column22. The slot 65 slidably receives a guide member 66 whicht is secured bya projecting portion 68. with the pointer element 70. of the movablemeans 62. The Slut. 65, is. nalrgwed. at itsy upper` region. '7.2,thereby retaining the movable means 62s in position for slidable action.algue its Slot- 65...

The, movable means-v 6,4L is constructed`Y in a manner similartothatfoli-thelmeans 62 and is retained/for slidable positioning withinthe slot '74 extending through the squares of the row 30 in the marginalregion of the member.- 1.2-

Although the game apparatus 60 does not have the simplicity ofconstruction of the game device 10, it aiordsa highly desirable meansfor indicating the rows 1S: and columns 20. selected by the players.

Refer now to the Figure 5, which illustrates another matrix game VwhichA is a modiiication of the game 10. The game apparatus 80 comprisesaboard member 81 provided with a central playing eld 82 within a squareborder line 34. The playing eld 82.V has 25 square regions 86 arrangedin ve rows and columns.

Of course, the number of regions 86 may be increased or decreased forthe purpose of increasing or decreasinsthe complexity ofthe same-Theboardmember 81 is provided with four peripheral or marginal regions88, 90, 92 and 94, each subdivided into .f1ve square regionsrforcorrespondence with a row ory column, as vthecase may be.

The counters A,*B, C and D may be respectively positionedV in the squareregions of the marginal portions 8S, 90, 92 and 94 for selectingparticular rows and columns for` playing, the. gal-lle the mannerdescribed in connectionwith the. matrix game 10 of the Figure l.

When [two-persons are to play fthe game, then the iirst player mayutilize the counter A for selecting rows of the s quareregions. 8,6,while the second player may move the counter B for selecting columns ofsquare regions '86.of'therplaying eld 82. The rst and second players mayalternate their moves as described previously. If four players are toparticipate in the game, the third and fourth players may respectivelyutilize counters C andl D,.and;moves may bey taken in sequence by theparticipants so that a player selecting a row is preceded and followedbyfplayers selecting. columns, while a player selecting a column ispreceded :and followed by players.

selecting rows- Such an arrangement is achieved'when the players taketheir moves in accordance with. their.

counterfclockwise position about the teld 82 of the board;member1 81. Iplayed in the clockwise direction.

When the game is played by four players, two teams mayvbetprovidedso.that certain-players can cooperate Of.course, the game also. may be`with each other for the purpose of maximizing their score. If theplayers A and B are partners, and the players C and D yare partners, andthe game is played in 4the counter-clockwise direction, then the playerA would select a row to obtain the most beneficial result by thefollowing action which may be taken by the partner B. However, theplayer B in selecting a column would also consider minimizing orpreventing the following player C, his opponent, from gaining anadvantage. Likewise the player C sets up the action to be taken by hispartner, the player D, by anticipating the selection which may be madeby player D. rI'thus, the game played with four players may be carriedout in a manner similar to that of the game illustrated by thedescription of Figure 1 in connection with the actions of two players.Of cou-rse the moves by the partners may be alternated with the moves ofthe opposing partners when A and C, and B and D, are made partners.

It is noted that the matrix game 80 is of increased utility since thegame may be played by two or more persons. It is also noted that whenonly two players oppose each other, the playing field 82 may be limitedto 16 square regions I86 by utilizing only four rows and four columns.The lield may also be extended to include the marginal regions 92 and 94thereby providing a square playing iield with 36 square regions formedby six rows and six columns.

While only a few representative embodiments of the invention disclosedherein have been described in detail, there will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, many modiiications and variations laccomplishing theforegoing objects and realizing many or all of the advantages, but whichdo not depart essentially from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A matrix game comprising, in combination, a playing board defining asubstantially ilat playing field, indicia Idividing a central portion ofsaid -iield into a plurality of parallel columns and a plurality ofperpendicularly extending rows of substantially rectangular regions, thenumber of regions in each row being equal to the number of regions ineach column, a pair of perpendicularly related marginal portions of saidplaying tield each extending alongside of and substantially parallel toan end one of said plurality of rows and columns, each one of saidmarginal portions defining a fixed path, an indicator slidably carriedupon each one of said marginal portions, guide means restricting eachsaid indicator to longitudinal movement along said fixed path parallelto said respective rows and columns, each said indicator havingindicating means directed normal to said fixed path toward saidrectangular regions of said rows and columns, and a plurality ofcounters each having a different numerical value, each one of saidcounters being positionable upon one of said regions.

2. A matrix game comprising, in combination, a playing board defining asubstantially flat playing field, indicia dividing a central portion ofsaid field into a plurality of parallel columns and a plurality ofperpendicularly extending rows of substantially rectangular regions, thenumber of regions in each row being equal to the number of regions ineach column, a pair of perpendicularly related marginal portions of saidplaying field each extending alongside of and substantially parallel toan end one of said plurality of rows and columns, each one of saidmarginal portions defining a fixed path, an indicator slidably carriedupon each one of said marginal portions, guide means restricting eachsaid indicator to longitudinal movement along said fixed path parallelto said respective rows and columns, each said indicator havingindicating means directed normal to said fixed path toward saidrectangular regions of said rows and columns, and a plurality ofcounters each having a different numerical value, each one of saidcounters being positionable upon one of said regions, said marginalportions including indicia dividing the individual lengths of saidmarginal portions into a plurality of individual areas each contiguouswith one of said regions in each respective row and column, and eachindicator being selectively movable along said respective path into oneof said areas of said marginal portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,174,219 Young Mar. 7, 1916 1,459,937 Teipel June 26, 1923 1,628,677Morichard May 17, 1927 1,923,607 Barringer Aug. 22, 1933 2,052,797 ReadSept. 1, 1936 2,120,439 Jamison June 14, 1938 2,205,415 Keely lune 25,1940 2,542,870 Hyland Feb. 20, 1951 2,585,924 Freedman Feb. 19, 19522,791,430 King May 7, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 423,891 Italy `uly 30, 1947

